Subsea connector system

ABSTRACT

A subsea connector with a connection point between the Lower Workout Riser Package and the Upper Workout Riser Package which would facilitate access to the well under full wellbore pressure. There is provided a primary collet to connect the two halves of well subsea connector together. The connector further comprises 32 hydraulic couplers that allow control of the LWRP, Subsea tree and downhole functions. The connector of the present invention can be configured for electrical interface for tree and downhole function control if required. In the present invention, the connector allows for a controlled disconnect for emergency situations that will shut in all LWRP isolations valves, blow out preventor (BOP) rams and subsea tree valves, leaving the well secure. The subsea connector also allows for easy reconnection to the LWRP and control of the tree once the situation necessitating the disconnection is resolved.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a nonprovisional patent application of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/704,159, filed 21 Sep. 2012, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/704,159,filed 21 Sep. 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference, is herebyclaimed.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to offshore Subsea Live Well Interventionsystems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a subseaconnector which is a connection point between the Lower Workover RiserPackage (LWRP) and the Upper Workover Riser Package (UWRP) to facilitateaccess to the well while the well is under full wellbore pressure.

2. General Background of the Invention

During a Live Well Intervention of an offshore Subsea well it is oftennecessary to connect and disconnect various components of theIntervention package at a substantial depth beneath the water surface.For example, the Lower Workover Riser Package (LWRP) must be connectedto the Subsea Tree or Well Head by means of a lower connector. The LowerWorkover Riser Package (LWRP) can be deployed individually or runconnected to the Upper Workover Riser Package (UWRP) by means of acompletion riser.

If the Lower Workover Riser Package (LWRP) is run individually on wireand landed on the Subsea Tree or Well Head, the Upper Workover RiserPackage (UWRP) will be connected to and lowered by the completion riser.The CROSS 7.0 Connector is the connection between the two componentswhich allows an environmentally safe connection as well as fullhydraulic functionality communications to control the LWRP, Subsea treeand downhole functions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system of the present invention solves the problems in the art in asimple and straightforward manner. What is provided is a subseaconnector with a connection point between the Lower Workout RiserPackage and the Upper Workout Riser Package which would facilitateaccess to the well under full wellbore pressure. There is provided aprimary collet 41 to connect the two halves of well subsea connectortogether. The collet 41 is a locking ring including collet fingers/dogs.The connector further comprises 32 hydraulic couplers that allow controlof the LWRP, Christmas tree and downhole functions. The connector of thepresent invention can be configured for electrical interface for treeand downhole function control if required. In the present invention, theconnector allows for a controlled disconnect for emergency situationsthat will shut in all LWRP isolations valves, blow out preventer ramsand tree valves by means of vented couplers thus leaving the wellsecure. The subsea connector also allows for easy reconnection to theLWRP and control of the tree once the situation necessitating thedisconnection is resolved.

One embodiment of the present invention is a subsea connector system,positionable between a lower workover riser package (LWRP) and an upperworkover riser package (UWRP) of a well, the system comprising: a) anupper portion of the connector; b) a lower portion of the connector; c)a plurality of hydraulic couplers for securely engaging the upperportion of the connector to the lower portion; d) means for allowing thesubsea connector to perform a controlled disconnect for emergencysituations that will shut off all isolation valves, BOP rams and treevalves to secure the well; and e) means for allowing for easyreconnection to the lower workover riser package and gain control of thetree once the emergency situation is resolved.

In another embodiment of the system of the present invention, there areprovided 32 hydraulic couplers engaging the upper and lower portion ofthe connector together.

In another embodiment of the system of the present invention, the lowerportion of the connector provides a guide funnel.

In another embodiment of the system of the present invention, once theupper portion is fully landed onto the lower portion, the unlockfunction is vented and the lock function is pressured up via a controlumbilical.

In another embodiment of the system of the present invention, there arecollet dogs and wherein in following that step, a collet release pistonmoves down to all the collet dogs to engage the lower half hub andlocked down.

In another embodiment of the system of the present invention, during theemergency disconnect mode, the LWRP and tree valves are closed, beforethe subsea connector disconnects, to prevent undesirable environmentalimpact.

Another embodiment of the system of the present invention comprises asubsea connector system, positionable between a lower workover riserpackage (LWRP) and an upper workover riser package (UWRP) of a well, thesystem comprising: a) an upper portion of the connector; b) a lowerportion of the connector; c) a plurality of thirty two hydrauliccouplers for securely engaging the upper portion of the connector to thelower portion; d) means for allowing the subsea connector to perform acontrolled disconnect for emergency situations that will shut off allisolation valves, BOP rams and tree valves to secure the well; e) meansfor allowing for easy reconnection to the lower workover riser packageand gain control of the tree once the emergency situation is resolved;and f) wherein during the emergency disconnect mode, the LWRP and treevalves are closed, before the subsea connector disconnects, to preventundesirable environmental impact.

In another embodiment of the system of the present invention, there arecollet dogs and wherein once the upper portion is fully landed onto thelower portion, the unlock function is vented and the lock function ispressured up via a control umbilical, and a collet release piston movesdown to all the collet dogs to engage the lower half hub and lockeddown.

In another embodiment of the system of the present invention, the lowerportion of the connector provides a guide funnel to guide the upperportion to be engaged to the lower portion of the subsea connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages ofthe present invention, reference should be had to the following detaileddescription, read in conjunction with the following drawings, whereinlike reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate perspective views of the upper portion of thesubsea assembly;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate perspective views of the lower and funnelportion of the subsea connector assembly;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate top and cut away views respectively of thesubsea connector;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the entire subsea connector in theinitial alignment between the upper and lower portions of the connector;

FIG. 5A illustrates a cutaway view of the fine alignment of the upperportion of the connector of the present invention;

FIG. 5B illustrates a detailed view of the Hydraulic coupler interface;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate top and side views respectively of the finalinstallation of the upper portion into the lower portion of theconnector system of the present invention, with FIG. 6B being takenalong lines 6B-6B of FIG. 6A; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an overall view of the connection system in place ina subsea system with the connector positioned between the wellhead andthe Christmas tree of the system.

FIG. 8 illustrates a collet of the present invention, showing interiorand exterior fingers of the collet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Prior to a discussion of FIGS. 1-8 as indicated above, a generaldiscussion will be made of the operation and the use of the overallsystem of the present invention. The Lower Riser Workout Package (LWRP)is deployed in one of several methods. The LWRP is lowered onto a Subseatree by means of wire that is latched to the LWRP subsea connectorrunning sub, or is ran with the Upper Workout Riser Package (UWRP)attached with riser and landed as one unit onto the Subsea tree. This isillustrated clearly in FIGS. 4, 6A-6B, 7 with the subsea connectorillustrated by the numeral 10. The method chosen will be dependent onthe rig or vessel capabilities.

The subsea connector is seen in the drawing Figures by the numeral 10.Connector 10 includes a male half (lower portion) 12 which includes aguide funnel 14 which is flanged up to the top of the LWRP 16 (see FIGS.2A-2B, 3R). The connector 10 also includes an upper female half 20 whichis flanged to the bottom of the UWRP 22 (see FIG. 1A, 3B). A 33 linehydraulic control umbilical with couplers 30 is attached to the subseaconnector female half 20 at a junction plate 38 on top of the femaleconnector 20. The unlock function is pressured up to 3,000 psi (20,684kPa) to move the collet release piston up and to in turn pull the colletrelease piston up, thus positioning the collet into the open position inorder to go over the male half 12 and land out. The female half islowered into the rough alignment slots of the male half guide funnel 14The female half 20 continues down and positions itself into the finealignment pins 37 for final land out and coupler engagement asillustrated in FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B. Once the female is fully landed ontothe male half, the unlock function is vented and the lock function ispressured up to 3,000 psi (20,684 kPa) via the line hydraulic controlumbilical 33. The collet release piston 32 moves down with the colletrelease 34 (see FIG. 3B), thus allowing the collet dogs or fingers ofcollet 41 to engage the male half hub 12 and lock down as illustrated inFIG. 5B. The line hydraulic control umbilical 33 is then used to controlthe LWRP and Subsea tree to the coupler plate and the male 12 and female20 halves of the subsea connector 10. Under an emergency disconnectsituation, the LWRP and tree valves are closed, as the subsea connector10 disconnects through designated vented couplers thus preventingenvironmental impact.

In use of the overall system, the subsea connector 10 is used as aconnection point between the riser and the well control system below asillustrated in FIG. 7. The connector 10 allows full bore pressureoperations to take place in order for wire line, slick line and coiltubing operations to take place on a subsea well. The connector allowsfor a controlled disconnect between the riser and the well controlsystem during normal and emergency operations. Under normal operations,the riser may need to be disconnected for sea states or vessel to vesseloperations; the subsea connector allows this to take place in acontrolled manner. Under emergency situations as in a vessel drive off,the subsea connector 10 allows for a disconnect with no environmentalimpact or damage to the LWRP and Subsea Tree components. Once thesituation is corrected on the vessel, the riser can be reconnected andthe operations resumed. All LWRP, Subsea tree, and downhole functionsare controlled through the subsea connector via the couplers and controlumbilical.

In a discussion of the drawing Figures, reference is first made to FIGS.1A and 1B which illustrate overall views from the top as seen in FIG. 1Aand from the bottom as seen in FIG. 1B of the female portion 20 of thesubsea connector 10 as it will be engaged onto the male portion 12.

As seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the male lower portion 12 of the connector10 includes a funnel portion 14 for guiding the female portion 20thereupon and includes a plurality of couplers, preferably 33 hydrauliccouplers 30 which will engage the female portion 20 when it is in place.

In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the connection as seen in the top and side views,where there is provided the male connector body 20 engaged with thecollet release piston 32 and the collet release 34. Also shown is collet41. There is further provided the upper female connector assembly 12that engages thereto and with a series of walker seals 36 in between toprevent leakage between the two connectors. When hydraulic pressure isapplied to the collet retainer housing release piston 32, the colletretainer or release 34 is pulled up, thus engaging item 41 colletfingers and forcing them to slide into the collet retainer and out ofthe latching area, whereby releasing the upper half of the hydrauliccollet connector from the lower collet 12. The collet 41 does not movein any direction.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an overall view of thesubsea connector 10 prior to the upper female portion 20 being engagedin to the male portion 12 in its initial alignment as seen in FIG. 4. InFIG. 4, in the initial alignment procedure, one would install both male12 and female 20 connectors in the following steps; first, the bolt finealignment pin 37 would be snugged onto the base plate; the next stepwould be to lower the top connector 20 onto the lower connector 12 asillustrated; the next step is to insure course guides on the funnel 14clears the alignment pockets in the top connect; next, further lower thetop connector until the contact with the fine alignment pin, one wouldlet the pin self align to the holes in the top connector plate andassist if necessary; next, engage the connector completely; next torquedown both fine alignment pins SITU as much as possible; and finallyrepeat steps 1-6 a couple of times to ensure smooth operation.

In discussing the fine alignment procedure as seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B,one would first disengage the connector 10; next remove the funnel 14from the lower connector unit; next, remove the coupler protectionguards 39 as seen in FIG. 5B from the top connector unit 20; next,torque both fine alignment pin to 500 ft-lbs (678 newton meters); next,install all couplers 33 on top and bottom of the connector unit 10; nextstep would be to lower the top connector 20 onto the lower connector 12with care not to cock on the fine alignment pins 37; next, engage theconnector completely; next measure the gap between all coupler pairswith feeler gage; next, mark location and record the thickness for thoseout of spec coupler pair; and finally, use 316 SST shim washers 40 toadjust out of the spec coupler pairs.

Turning again to FIG. 5A, there is illustrated the fine alignment of themale portion 20 onto the female portion 12 using the coupler protectionwhere the coupler protection guards have been removed and there is adouble jam nut. FIG. 5B is a cut away view showing the couplerprotection guards 39 to be removed.

Turning now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, there is seen the final installationprocedure between the upper 20 and lower portions 12 of the subseaconnector 10. The first step would be to reinstall the funnel 14 ontothe lower connection unit 12; next, reinstall the coupler protectionguards 39 onto the top connector unit 20; next, full function and loadconnection unit as required by the operation.

Turning now finally to FIG. 7, there is illustrated the connector 10 ofthe present invention at a connection point between the riser 50 and thewell control system wherein it is engaged right about the Christmas tree60 in the manner as discussed earlier.

FIG. 8 illustrates 41 collet cut down the middle to depict the interior“I” and exterior “E” finger surfaces.

All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature andpressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. Allmaterials used or intended to be used in a human being arebiocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; thescope of the present invention is to be limited only by the followingclaims.

1. A subsea connector system, positionable between a lower workoverriser package (LWRP) and an upper workover riser package (UWRP) of awell, the system comprising: a) an upper portion of the connector; b) alower portion of the connector; c) a plurality of hydraulic couplers forsecurely engaging the upper portion of the connector to the lowerportion; d) means for allowing the subsea connector to perform acontrolled disconnect for emergency situations that will shut off allisolation valves, BOP rams and tree valves to secure the well; and e)means for allowing for easy reconnection to the lower workover riserpackage and gain control of the tree once the emergency situation isresolved.
 2. The system in claim I, wherein there are provided 32hydraulic couplers engaging the upper and lower portion of the connectortogether.
 3. The system in claim 1, wherein the lower portion of theconnector provides a guide funnel.
 4. The system in claim I, whereinonce the upper portion is fully landed onto the lower portion, theunlock function is vented and the lock function is pressured up via acontrol umbilical.
 5. The system in claim 4, wherein there are colletdogs and wherein in following that step, a collet release piston movesdown to all the collet dogs to engage the lower half hub and lockeddown.
 6. The system in claim 1, wherein during the emergency disconnectmode, the LWRP and tree valves are closed, before the subsea connectordisconnects, to prevent undesirable environmental impact.
 7. A subseaconnector system, positionable between a lower workover riser package(LWRP) and an upper workover riser package (UWRP) of a well, the systemcomprising: a) an upper portion of the connector; b) a lower portion ofthe connector; c) a plurality of thirty two hydraulic couplers forsecurely engaging the upper portion of the connector to the lowerportion; d) means for allowing the subsea connector to perform acontrolled disconnect for emergency situations that will shut off allisolation valves, BOP rams and tree valves to secure the well; e) meansfor allowing for easy reconnection to the lower workover riser packageand gain control of the tree once the emergency situation is resolved;and f) wherein during the emergency disconnect mode, the LWRP and treevalves are closed, before the subsea connector disconnects, to preventundesirable environmental impact.
 8. The system in claim 7, whereinthere are collet dogs and wherein once the upper portion is fully landedonto the lower portion, the unlock function is vented and the lockfunction is pressured up via a control umbilical, and a collet releasepiston moves down to all the collet dogs to engage the lower half huband locked down.
 9. The system in claim 7, wherein the lower portion ofthe connector provides a guide funnel to guide the upper portion to beengaged to the lower portion of the subsea connector.
 10. A method usingthe subsea connector system of claim 1, for positioning between a lowerworkover riser package (LWRP) and an upper workover riser package (UWRP)of a well, the method comprising the following steps: a) securelyengaging the upper portion of the connector to the lower portion withthe plurality of hydraulic couplers; b) performing a controlleddisconnect that shuts off all isolation valves, BOP rams and tree valvesto secure a well; and c) reconnecting the lower workover riser package.11. The method of claim 10, wherein once the upper connector is fullylanded onto the lower connector, an unlock function is vented and thelock function is pressured up via a control umbilical.
 12. The method inclaim 10, wherein there are collet dogs and wherein a collet releasepiston moves down to all the collet dogs to engage the lower connectorand lock down in step (a).
 13. The method in claim 10, wherein duringthe controlled disconnect of step (b), the LWRP and tree valves areclosed, before the subsea connector disconnects, to prevent undesirableenvironmental impact.